Apparatus for sealing mounts to tubular bulbs



March 16, 1954 c. WIENER 2,671,986

APPARATUS FOR SEALING MOUNTS TO TUBULAR BULBS Filed Feb. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l as J ' INVENTOR Cf/fl/PZES MFA 7? BY Q2 "41 ATTORNE March 16, 1954 c, WIENER 2,671,986

APPARATUS FOR SEALING MOUNTS TO TUBULAR BULBS Filed Feb. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR (f/H164 E5 MENEE.

' ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1954 APPARATUS FOR- SEALINGMOUNTS TO TUBULAR BULBS Charles Wiener, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Par, a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationFebruaryZ'l, 1952, Serial No. 273,746

7 Claims.

This invention relates to making discharge lamps and, more particularly, to apparatus for sealing-in the mounts thereof.

The principal object of v my invention, generally considered, is to provide a machine to form a shoulder on a tubular bulb and simultaneously seal. a mount thereto, as an improvement over the previous multiple-step method.

Another object of my invention is to provide a, machine to manufacture discharge lamps, avoiding theseparate'for-ming of the bulb shoulders, the grinding ofsuch shoulders to length, and the washing of the bulbs after grinding.

A further object ofmy invention is to manufacture discharge lamps by cutting tubing to the desired-length, mounting a length of tubing in a: rotatable chuck, holding a mount with a flare on a pin rotatable at the same speedas saidchuck, said pin letting the mount float inside of said tubing, directing needle-pointed tiresat the bottom edgeof the rotating; bulb, with a roller resting on theend-of the tubing-at the heightdesired for the-shoulder and'lightly spring-loaded to give desired pressure on the tubing, contracting it to meet the edge of the mount flare which is thereby embedded securely therein, lowering the mount pina slight distance, and thereafter directing needle-pointed fires to the edge of the flare at the junction with the bulb, effecting fusion therebetween, the underside of the flare becoming soft. and sagging untilit reachesthe mount pin, giving uniform roundnessto the bottom of the seal and simulating aconventional pull-down.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a machine for sealing mounts to tubular bulbs while simultaneouslyforming shoulders on saidbu-lb's', comprisinga mount pin, a bulb chuck, mechanism for driving them at the same speed andjin the same direction, swingable'horiaontallydirected needle-pointed fires for softening the engaged portions of an associated bulb and mount, a spring-biased roller vertically pivoted oh a horizontally-swinging arm, lever means spring-biased toupper position to reciprocate the mount pin, and swinging diagonally-upwardlydirected needle-pointed fires for finishing the seal between the mount and bulb.

Other objects and advantages of'the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing: h V V Figure 1 is'a fragmentary elevational view of a discharge lamp which may be manufactured by a method and apparatus embodying my invention.

. Figure 2 is an elevational' view of a machine embodying my invention.

2 Figure 3 is a plan of the machine of Figure 2, with parts in section on the line IlI-III of Figure 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a diagrammaticview of portions of the machine, with a bulb and mount in an initial stage of sealing.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figured, but showing the bulb and mount after preliminary sealing and lowering of the mount pin.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5, but showing a subsequent position of the bulb and mount, in which the initially-formed seal is being softened for a finishing treatment.

Figure '7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6-, but showing a final stage of the sealing, wherein the union between the mount and shouldered portion of the bulb has softened to allow the mount to sag into engagement with the mount pin therebeneath to effect a forming of the seal.

In the previous manufacture of discharge lamps, germicidal ultra-violet lamps being a type, the bulb for each lamp had a shoulder formed thereon at each end, the shoulder was ground to length, and the bulb washed after such grinding. In accordance with my invention to be now specifically described, I incorporate the shoulder forming of the bulb with the sealing of the mount, thereby consolidating two operations and eliminating the necessity of washing the glass.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering Figures 2 and 3, there is shown a machine comprising a standard or upright portion II, extending from a base 12, and carrying arms i3 and [4 with hearings in which are re spectively journaled a tubular-bulb-holding chuck i5, and a mount-holding hollow pin H3. The pin i6 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in a sleeve H, as by a keyed connection therewith allowing such motion. The lower end of the pin iiis pivotally connected to an operating lever l8, biased toward its upper position by coil spring I9, between adjustable stop portions 2| and 22, carried by the fulcrum member 23 of the lever I8. Said member 23 is desirably secured to the standard or upright portion i i by desired means, such as bolts 2%. The sleeve I1 is driven, as by means of a belt 25, from a motor or other prime mover and,in turn, drives the chuck l5 by means of a gear 26 thereon meshing with a pinion with a gear 3i turning with said chuck.

As a means for effecting primary heating of the tubular bulb 32 carried by the chuck Iii and the associated mount 33' supported on said pin l6, I provide combustible-gas-carrying pipes with burners 34 and 35 for directing needle-pointed fires 36 and 31 horizontally on the lower end of a bulb 32, cut to length from a piece of tubing of appropriate diameter. These pipes may receive gas through flexible tubes 38 and 39 and be turned on on upright or standard 4| about the vertical axis of a supporting member 42, carrying a head 43 to which said pipes are secured, as by means of set screws 44. The standard 4| desirably has stops 45 between which a pin 46 extending from the supporting rod 42 oscillates for limiting movement of the fires 3E and 31.

For working the soft glass, after suitable heating by the fires 35 and 31, I provide a roller 41, desirably formed of metal, such as stainless steel, rotatable about a vertical pin 48 carried by a rod 49 which swings on a bracket portion about pivot member 52 between fixed stop 53 and adjustable stop 54. The bracket 52 is, in turn, adapted to swing about the axis of the supporting member 42, along with the head 43 from which it extends,

so that the desired movement of said roller to and from operative position is provided for. The end of the rod 49, opposite the roller 41, serves for the manual movement of said roller, which is desirably biased toward bulb-engaging position by means of a spring 60 acting between the rod 49 on the bracket portion 5|.

To effect a final shaping of the seal, I also provide pipes with burners 55 and 56 carrying combustible gas, to form needle-pointed fires 51 and 58 directed diagonally upward, and adjustable so that they may be moved to a position where they underlie the lower edge of the mount and connected bulb, after the initial operation. These pipes swing about the axis of a carrying rod 58', pivoted in a standard or upright member 59, and swinging with regard thereto to a limited extent, as by having a pin 6| projecting from said rod 58' and movable between fixed stops 62 on said standard. The arm 63 which carries the pipes 55 and 56 is secured to the rod 58 as by means of a set screw 64, and carries said pipes 55 and 53 on its free end, said pipes being supplied with combustible gas as a means of a flexible tube 65.

The operation of a machine in the practice of my method is desirably as follows: A mount 33 which may be of conventional construction, comprising a flare, has a press portion through which pass leads carrying a filament. One of the mounts for each bulb carries an exhaust tube or tubulation 53, united thereto at the press. Such a mount is supported by the pin H5 in the position shown in Figure 2, with its tubulation 53 (if tubulated) received therein, said pin being in uppermost position. A tubular bulb 32, cut to the desired length, is inserted in the chuck [5 in a position where its lower end surrounds said mount, as illustrated in Figure 2. The fires 35 and 31 are moved from the dotted to the full line position shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, where they heat the lower end of the bulb 32 and the flared lower edge of the mount 33.

This also effects movement of the head 43 and associated parts from dotted to full line position of Figure 3, rod 49 and the roller 41, however, being drawn to its inner dotted line position into engagement with the softening portion of the bulb and flare of the mount, whereupon, when the glass softens sufliciently, said roller distorts the lower end of said bulb by contracting it, from the position shown in Figure 2 to that of Figure 4, until the lower end of the mount is embedded into the interior surface of the shouldered portion of the bulb. Undesired contraction is avoided by the adjustable stop 54 preventing unrestrained inward movement of the roller under the action of control spring 60. The roller 41 is thereafter first moved to the full-line position,.and then with the fires 35 and 31 to the outer dotted-line position of Figure 3.

In the next position, illustrated in Figure 5, the operator has moved the lever l8 downwardly, withdrawing the supporting pin l6 slightly from the mount 33, leaving said mount suspended by its sealing engagement with the bulb 32. In the next position, illustrated in Figure 6, the operator has moved the fires 51 and 58 from the position illustrated in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, whereby said fires are directed upwardly and inwardly on the flare of the mount and at a junction between it and the shouldered portion of the bulb. Said mount heats and eventually sags down on the pin I6 therebeneath, where it is molded to the shape shown in Figure '1, thereby simulating the normal pull-down of the mount after sealing to a bulb.

The bulb 32 may then be withdrawn, inverted, replaced in the chuck l5 with its unsealed end enclosing another mount which need not have an exhaust tube 50 like the mount 33, and the foregoing operation repeated. The product of the two operations is illustrated in Figure 1 showing a lamp completed after bulb exhaustion, filling, and tipping off exhaust tube at 61.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular glass bulb, while forming a shoulder in said bulb at the junction, comprising a rotatable pin for supporting a tubulated mount and receiving the tubulation thereof, a rotatable chuck thereabove and axially alined therewith, means for rotating said pin and chuck in synchronism, upwardlyspring-biased means to support said pin so that said roller in engagement with the lower end portion of a bulb when held in said chuck, burners for producing diagonally-upwardly-directed needle-pointed fires, and means for supporting said burners so that they may be swung to and from a position where fires produced thereby,

underlie a mount when held on said pin.

2. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular? glass bulb, while forming a shoulder in said bulb at the junction, comprising a rotatable pin for supporting a mount, a similarly rotatable chuck thereabove and axially alined therewith, upwardly-spring-biased means to support said pin so that it may be moved toward and away from said chuck, horizontally directed burners for producing needle-pointed fires, means-for supporting said burners so that they may be swung to and from a mount on said pin, a horizontallyswinging arm carrying a vertically pivoted roller, spring means biasing said arm to hold said roller in engagement with the lower end portion of a bulb when held in said chuck, burners for producing diagonally-upwardly-directed needlepointed fires, and means for supporting said burners so that they may be swung to and from a position where fires produced thereby underlie a mount when held on said pin.

3. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular glass bulb while forming a shoulder in said bulb at the junction, comprising a rotatable pin for supporting a mount, a rotatable chuck thereabove and axially alined therewith, means for rotating said pin and chuck, horizontally directed burners for producing fires, means for supporting said burners so that they may be swung to and from a mount on said pin, a horizontally-swinging arm carrying a vertically pivoted roller, spring means to hold said roller in engagement with the lower end portion of a bulb when held in said chuck, burners for producing diagonally-upwardlydirected fires, and means for supporting said burners so that they may be swung to and from a position where fires produced thereby heat a mount at the lower end of a chuck-held bulb.

4. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular glass bulb, while forming a shoulder in said bulb at the junction, comprising a rotatable pin for supporting a mount, a rotatable chuck thereabove and axially alined therewith, means for simultaneously rotating said pin and chuck at the same speed and in the same direction, upwardlyspring-biased means movable to reciprocate said pin with respect to said chuck, burners, means for swinging said burners to and from a mount on said pin, a horizontally swinging arm carrying a pivoted roller, spring means biasing said arm to hold said roller in engagement with the lower end portion of a bulb when held in said chuck, and means for heating the mount after initial sealing to a bulb.

5. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular glass bulb comprising a rotatable pin for supporting a mount, a rotatable chuck thereabove, means for rotating said pin and chuck about the same axis and in synchronism, horizontallydirected burners for producing fires to efiect initial sealing between said bulb and mount, a horizontally-swinging arm carrying a verticallypivoted roller, means to hold said arm in a position where the roller is in engagement with the lower end portion of a bulb when held in said chuck to efiect initial sealing of mount to bulb, means to reciprocate said pin toward and away from said chuck, and diagonally-upwardlydirected burners for heating the mount, after such sealing and downward reciprocation of said pin, to cause the mount to sag down on, and be molded by means of, said pin.

6. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular glass bulb and simultaneously forming said bulb, comprising a pin for supporting a mount, a chuck axially alined therewith, means for rotating said pin and chuck about their common axis, means to reciprocate said pin toward and away from said chuck, burners for producing needle-pointed fires, means for swinging said burners to and from a mount on said pin, a horizontally swinging arm carrying a vertically pivoted roller, means for holding said roller in engagement with the lower end portion of said bulb to form it during the sealing operation, and means for heating the lower portion of said mount after sealing and lowering said pin to permit said lower portion to sag down on and be molded by means of said pin.

7. Apparatus for sealing a mount to a tubular glass bulb, while forming a shoulder in said bulb at the junction, comprising a rotatable pin for supporting a tabulated mount and receiving the tubulation thereof, a rotatable chuck thereabove and axially alined therewith, means for rotating said pin and chuck in synchronism, upwardlyspring-biased means movable to reciprocate said pin toward and away from said chuck, horizontally directed burners for producing needlepointed fires, means for supporting said burners so that they may be swung to and from a mount on said pin, a horizontally-swinging arm carrying a vertically pivoted roller, and spring means biasing said arm to hold said roller in engagement with the lower end portionof a bulb when held in said chuck.

CHARLES WIENER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,906,315 Davis et a1. May 2, 1933 2,203,917 Malloy June 11, 1940 2,525,043 Nelson et a1 Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 570,920 Great Britain July 27, 1945 641,235 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1950 

